FireBlast on Norway

[Mary S. Lynn]

Hi, Barbara. Glad you enjoyed the pictures! I also took my first cruise on the Norway back in the 80's, and she is my favorite ship. It would be terribly sad if an original steamer were to be put out of service. Thanks very much for your reply!

 

[Chris Mazzella]

what's happening to the Norway? Is she going to be scrapped or are they going to save her?

 

[Erik Wood]

Last I knew she was still sitting at Bremerhaven. I don't know but I would wager that scrapping her is almost out of the question. Having her retire from service is another story all together.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The North Country Gazette:

4½ Years Later–No NTSB Report On S/S Norway

quote:

MIAMI–At approximately 6:48 a.m., on May 25, 2003, Memorial Day weekend, a boiler exploded aboard the 50-year-old Bahamian cruise ship, S/S Norway, docked in the port of Miami-Dade, waiting to disembark.

About 20 tons of water was released which rapidly expanded into saturated steam. The expanding water vapor breached the crew living areas on two decks, displacing bulkheads and blowing doors and their frames out. As a result of this accident, eight crewmembers died and another 17 crewmembers sustained serious and minor injuries.

There were 2,135 passengers on board and 911 crewmembers. All passengers were evacuated safely.

During the three weeks after the accident, an additional four crewmembers died from injuries. Nearly 50 fire-rescue units from Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami, and Miami Beach responded to the explosion in the boiler room.

The National Transportation Safety Board launched a Go-Team to investigate. Robert Ford, who was to later head the investigative team for the October, 2005 capsizing of the Ethan Allen tour boat on Lake George in the Adirondacks, was the investigator-in-charge of the Norway probe. NTSB chairperson Ellen Engleman Conners accompanied the team.

For the rest of this somewhat lengthy story, go to http://www.northcountrygazette.org/news/2007/11/18/norway_ntsb_report/

Comment: Even though this is an old thread, this one appeared to be the most appropriate to call attention to this story. Even given that these investigations can take a long time, four and a half years is something of a stretch.​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

The NTSB has uploaded the Norway accident report to their website and it may be accessed at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2007/MAB0703.htm

Takes a bit of time to download if you're on dial up, but it's worth the wait.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Miami Herald.com:

NTSB: Poor operation, maintenance led to deadly cruise ship blast

quote:

MIAMI -- A boiler explosion on the cruise ship SS Norway that killed eight crew members in 2003 was likely caused by Norwegian Cruise Line's improper operation, maintenance and inspection of the steam chamber, federal investigators said.

Part of the boiler had "extensive fatigue cracking" and deteriorated materials that weakened the metal and caused it to rupture under the intense steam pressure, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a report quietly adopted in October.

Evidence "indicates that NCL shipboard engineers were aware of the cracking condition but did not take appropriate action to fix the problem," the report said.

Full story at http://www.miamiherald.com/business/AP/story/375604.html​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Miami Herald:

Charges filed for 2003 Miami cruise ship blast

quote:

MIAMI -- Norwegian Cruise Line Limited has been charged with grossly negligent operation of a vessel for a 2003 ship explosion in Miami, according to court documents filed Friday.

For the rest, see http://www.miamiherald.com/775/story/519100.html​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From The Miami Herald:

Cruise line pleads guilty in deadly blast

quote:

Federal prosecutors on Friday charged Norwegian Cruise Line with gross negligence almost five years after a boiler explosion on the historic SS Norway killed eight crew members and seriously injured 10 others in the Port of Miami.

The U.S. attorney's office said Norwegian agreed to plead guilty to the criminal charge, which alleges the cruise line operated the vessel in a ``grossly negligent manner that endangered the lives, limbs and property of the persons on board.''

Norwegian is liable for at least $500,000 in criminal penalties for the deadliest accident on a U.S.-based ocean liner in more than a decade. The cruise line also has agreed to carry out safety inspections of its vessels with an independent consultant.

For the rest, go to http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/519297.html

Comment: That was a fast resolution! Still, with that damning NTSB report, if they had tried to plead innocent, they would have had to put the trial on hold because it would have taken the jury an hour to stop laughing!​

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From MSN Money:

Cruise line fined $1M in blast that killed 8

quote:

MIAMI (AP) - A federal judge has ordered a cruise line to pay $1 million for an explosion that killed eight crew members at the Port of Miami.

More at http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=AP&date=20080521&id=8679357​